Exciting News & Giveaway

My good friend, Geta, has been working so hard for several months putting together her first E-pattern to share her sensational Shadow Trapunto technique. The day has finally arrived that it's ready and I am so excited for her. Rush on over to her blog, Geta's Quilting Studio and see what an amazing job she has done.

I've taken quite a few workshops, especially those in which I hoped to learn a new technique I have to say that I've never encountered a teacher quite as thorough as Geta. I've had the honor of getting some sneak peeks as she was working on this first pattern and I have been so impressed with her plain and simple instructions and excellent pictures. And her pricing is just as unbelievable! I truly feel that anyone with a basic familiarity with free motion quilting will be able to make a Shadow Trapunto project and amaze their friends and themselves.

To make this ever better, Geta, generous as always, is giving away SIX prizes to those ordering and/or commenting.

So get on over there and check it out.

Geta, you will be famous one day and I'm so blessed to call you friend.

Progress

Another hot and humid day in S.E. Kansas. I'm back to working on my "Flowers For........." quilt. 48 blocks done so far. A lot more to go!

'Twas The Night Before Christmas

Helen over at Hugs & Kisses has designed a wonderful new pattern for a fabulous redwork and pieced Christmas quilt. She's even offering to give away a full set of patterns to a lucky winner. So hurry on over and enter for your chance to win. There are only 6 more months until Christmas so you need to get started!

Chicken Dance

I finally decided today what I was going to do for our guild's challenge which is due at next month's meeting. Each year we get a fat quarter in our membership packet and we are required to use a recognizable piece of it in our challenge project. Every year the challenge is something different. Last year we made new portrait blocks.

This year we were challenged to make a finished quilt that had at least one 3-D element made from fabric (didn't have to be the challenge fabric). The finished measurements could not be less than 12" nor bigger than 18".

I've really struggled coming up with an idea and finally thought I had one only to change my mind again this morning. Last week while sorting through some UFO's I found a leftover from doing this wall hanging in 2006:

It's called "Boots Rooster and Sunbonnet Chick". When I made Chick the first time I didn't allow enough room for Boots on the left. So I had to start all over. That left me with a completely appliqued Chick that I wasn't about to throw out.

So this morning I decide it would be perfect for this challenge...being half done and all...sounded good to me. I added another wing to balance her out a bit and then she looked like she might be doing the Chicken Dance.

Since I love Sunbonnet Sue, have chickens all over my kitchen and lived most of my life in Iowa where I don't think a marriage is official if the Chicken Dance isn't performed, it seemed like a perfect fit. I just added some yo-yos to the bottom of her skirt for my 3-D element. And the challenge fabric was used for the binding.

Now any fellow guild members that might be reading know what I've made, but it doesn't matter much since everyone has seen Boots & Chick and would recognize it anyway.

Can you tell there is actual netting for her hose?

And guess what I received in today's mail..another siggy with Sunbonnet Sue! Thanks, Layla.

Thunder and a spattering of rain rolled through a bit ago. Just a couple miles north in Frontenac it rained like everything. Crazy.

Snails, Pears, Fennel & Oranges

Two people contacted me yesterday to say they'd like to swap siggy blocks. So I had to get some more ready.

Then the mail came with two more siggys from people on the list. It is such fun to see all the different fabrics and designs.

Gerry in The Netherlands put a lot of work into hand appliqueing this beautiful pear because she lives in an area with many fruit trees.

Renate from Germany did a wonderful job on this cute snail siggy.

Then, even though our air conditioning was struggling to keep up with the high 90's yesterday, I decided I needed to bake some bread. I pulled out a recipe I hadn't made for awhile, but one of our favorites. The ingredients are a bit unusual but it has a wonderful flavor and texture, especially toasted. I didn't have fresh orange peel so had to use dried, which works, but isn't as good as fresh.

If you like to bake bread, give this one a try and don't be put off by the white pepper. It gives a nice zing to the flavor.

ORANGE FENNEL LOAVES

1 pkg. yeast
1 C. warm water
1 1/4 C. milk
1/4 C. butter, melted and cooled
1/4 C. sugar
1 1/2 T. grated orange peel (fresh is best, dried will work)
1 T. fennel seeds, crushed
2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. white pepper (if you have it, otherwise black is okay)
6-7 C. flour

Dissolve yeast in water and let stand until foamy. Stir in remaining ingredients, adding flour last. Let rise in greased bowl until double (1 1/2 hours). Divide in half (or fourths like I do) and form into loaves. Let rise until almost double (1 hours). I like to cut a cross or other pattern in the tops just before baking--suit your fancy, but you need to pierce it somehow to allow for expansion. If you just snip a "plus" sign on the top it looks pretty.

Bake about 25-30 minutes for smaller loaves or 45 minutes for larger at 375 degrees. Brush with butter after taking out of oven (of course!)

Be sure and try this toasted!